Caboose

Crossing railroad tracks is always dangerous. The endless stream of black coal cars, red cattle cars and bland box cars was mind-numbing ... Boring! So boring, passenger-car drivers would day-dream or even doze off waiting for the caboose to pass. The last car of a train is always the caboose. Always! This is my "caboose" …

Kotor Bay

This is the view from the Church of Our Lady of Remedy that sits half way up the steep mountain overlooking Kotor, Montenegro. (see Chapel) Thought for the Day: Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before. The Dalai Lama

Chapel

About half way up the steep mountain sits a small chapel overlooking Kotor, Montenegro. There is a well worn path leading up to the chapel. The path was paved with fist-sized stones and had many cut backs which made the climb almost bearable. Thought for the Day: After climbing a great hill, one only finds …

City Wall

Kotor City Wall City walls that protected medieval cities are not uncommon. But, the wall protecting Kotor, Montegero is in a class of its own. Built in the early 1400's, it is nearly five miles long, over 60' tall and 50' wide at its base. Thought for the Day: The strength of walls depends on …

Kotor, Montenegro

Kotor, Montenegro I awoke shortly after daybreak. The coastline was visible from both sides of the ship. For the next 90 minutes we sailed between winding mountainous coastlines, also known as Europe's southern most fiords. Suddenly, we reached a deadend and arrived at Kotor, Montenegro. Nestled at the base of steep limestone cliffs, it was …

Laundry Day

Monday was always laundry day when I was a kid. While roaming the streets of Split, Croatia I found numerous scenes like this. I checked the calendar: Monday ... of course. Thought for the Day: We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or …

Downspout

I found this ancient gutter and downspout in Corfu, Greece. It appeared to be serving more as a planter than anything else. The porcelain electric insulators had long been retired. Thought for the Day: We are all in the gutter but some of us are looking at the stars.Oscar Wilde

Corfu Fortress

Corfu, Greece The small island of Corfu, Greece was protected by two fortresses, one at each end of the island. The Old Fortress, pictured above, was built by the Venetians and completed in 1545. Thought for the Day: Fate has terrible power. You cannot escape it by wealth or war. No fort will keep it …

Architectural Contrast

The architectural renaissance of Lithuania is evident in Riga. The post WW II building in the foreground serves as a prominant benchmark of the past in contrast with the modern skyscraper in the background. Thought foir the Day: The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our …

Greek Alphabet

I had always thought Greek was a "dead language"; i.e. not spoken, but its letters used in mathmatics and college fraternity names. A recent visit to Greece told me I was wrong. The language is still very much alive, assuming this sign says, "Keep Out". As they say, "It's all Greek to me." Thought for …

Corfu, Greece

Kudos to Corfu for providing a fabulous first impression. This is what I saw from the balcony of our stateroom on the Viking Sky. This scenic Greek island provided many photo ops, which will be shown in future blog posts. Thought for the Day: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. …

Chioggia Sunday

Chioggia Main Street The small town of Chioggia, Italy has only one main street. On Sunday the street is used as a central meeting place, Most of the shops are closed, except for those selling cheap souvenirs to cruise ship passengers, but bars and restaurants are full. It's family time and the main street is …

Window Box

Flower Box Window flower boxes are common in Europe. This second floor scene was found in Chioggia, Italy. I found the symmetry very interesting. Thought for the Day: Tidiness is a virtue, symmetry is often a constituent of beauty.Winston Churchill

Gondola

Decorative Hardware Every gondola in Venice is constructed the same way they have been for ages. They are all exactly the same dimensionally. But they are all special. Each gondola owner/operator decorates their vessel in their own style and taste. Every detail is the owner's taste. The color schemes, seats, benches, lines, rope railings, and …

Venice 2

Venice, Italy - 2022 Rush hour in the canals ("side streets") of Venice, Italy. A 30 minute gondola tour of Venice costs 20 Euro per person. No horns honking, brakes squealing, or motor noise. Very quiet and peaceful. Worth every penny! Thought for the Day: Venice is like eating an entire box of chocolate liqueurs …

Corfu, Greece

Photo by Nikos Pilos Corfu was our first stop in Greece. Tomorrow is Olympia. Day after that is Athens where we take off for home. Thought for the Day: Every traveller has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering. Charles Dickens

Mount Branson?

Branson, MO - 2022 I found this along the "strip" in Branson, Missouri. An eye-catcher ... sort of, when you're desperate for a picture. Can you name the four figures? Thought for the Day: Sometimes the road less traveled is less traveled for a reason.  Jerry Seinfeld

Sowbelly Canyon

NW Nebraska - 2022 The scenic drive through Sowbelly Canyon is a narrow, winding, decent county gravel road ... when it's dry. The last time I tried this road was mid-May, 2014 when I almost got stuck in the first 50 yards off the asphalt highway. The spring rains make this gumbo impassable. No problem …

Old Smiley Road

Old Smiley Road - US 20 A ten-mile stretch of scenic road, Old Smiley Road, winds through the western part of Fort Robinson State Park in the NW corner of Nebraska. It is a narrow asphalt road, thankfully one-way, desparately in need of some TLC. What used to be part of US 20 is now …

Navigator

Navigator - 2022 When you're traveling in uncharted waters, a good navigator is essential. Thought for the Day: Two great talkers will not travel far together.Spanish Proverb